Gary Campbell's partner, Leanne Crawford, with helpers Lauryn MacKenna (9) and Kye Crawford (12) at the home baking stall at Sunday's fun day.PICTURE IAIN FERGUSON, THE WRITE IMAGE

Two fundraising events have been held in Lochaber at the weekend to help send a local man halfway round the world for ground-breaking treatment.

Gary Campbell, from Caol, who is just 29, was diagnosed with progressive MS in April.

But family, friends and supporters are pulling out all the stops to raise 45,000 in order to send him to Mexico for stem-cell treatment.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, HSCT, involves the intravenous infusion of stem cells collected from bone marrow or peripheral blood.

On Saturday, youngsters and their parents took park in a teddy bear toddle to raise cash for Mr Campbells cause, while yesterday, a large crowd attended a fun afternoon at An Aird in Fort William.

Leanne Crawford, Garys partner, said: The fun day went really well and there was a good turnout.

There were lots of fund-raising activities including a charity shinty match, bouncy castle, beat the goalie, a nail bar, home baking and raffles with loads of prizes.

Gary used to play shinty and two of his old teams from Caol and Banavie took part. Some people had obviously not played in a wee while and were falling about, but it was great fun.

Unfortunately, Gary wasnt well enough to come along which was a pity as he would have really enjoyed it.

He had a fall in the garden on Saturday night and I couldnt get him up. Fortunately his mum was there and between us we managed to get him back into the wheelchair.

His right leg was shaking constantly it was really stressful for him.

Ms Crawford said she has known Mr Campbell for nine years, and for the past five has noticed different symptoms.

He wasnt very good on his feet and sometimes his legs would give way. It was as though he was drunk when he hadnt been drinking.

Gary actually thought he had a brain tumour and, in a way, it was a relief when he was diagnosed with MS.

Ms Crawford said she is hoping by the time enough cash is raised, HSCT might be available closer to home.

I believe hospitals in Galway and Sheffield are looking into the treatment, but if he has to go to Mexico, Ill get him on the plane even though he is petrified of flying.

I dont know how much has been raised yet from these events, but we collected 663 from a recent baking sale and have 2,500 already on the just giving page. We also have 1,500 in a bank account collected from fund-raising events.

Gary is over the moon with the support he is receiving.

Another Lochaber resident with MS, Frances OConnell, received HSCT in Mexico last year.

Excerpt from:
Fun weekend activities will help send Lochaber man for ground-breaking MS treatment - Press and Journal